Things aren't getting better for Lloyd Kelly at Juventus thankfully obligation to buy isn't triggered by performances

In January, Newcastle United green lit the exit of summer-signing Lloyd Kelly to Juventus of all places as part of a loan with an obligation to buy which will see the Magpies net £17 million this summer.

Juventus paid £3 million up front to activate the loan, meaning the Magpies will ultimately bag £20 million for the defender who only joined in the summer as a free agent after leaving Bournemouth.

Unfortunately for Kelly, the move to Juventus isn't going much better than the one he made to Newcastle in the summer, albeit the 26-year-old is getting more minutes with The Old Lady.

He may wish he wasn't, though, as he's not exactly endearing himself to the Italian media or the Juventus supporters.

Lloyd Kelly had another nightmare for Juventus last night

Juventus were hammered 4-0 last night by Atalanta with Kelly being nutmegged for one of the goals earning him a 5/10 via Football Italia.

Indeed, The Chronicle has reported that Kelly was seemingly at fault for three of Atalanta's four goals.

"Kelly played the full 90 minutes, unlike others in the back four, but was lambasted by home fans after the game. He gave the ball away in midfield for Atalanta's second goal, and then his half-hearted challenge proved futile as the ball fell to Marten De Roon to double the visitors' advantage.

"Kelly then saw his attempted block fail from Davide Zappacosta for the third, with it going through his legs, and then inadvertently diverted Ademola Lookman's shot past the keeper for the fourth."

If Juventus don't get a grip, Newcastle can kiss that £17 million goodbye

Newcastle can rest for now given that the obligation to buy for Juventus will be triggered as long as they qualify for any European competition, so while their league form is worrying, they're still in a strong position to grab at least a Europa Conference League place which will be enough for the deal to be completed.

If they can't halt the slide, though, Newcastle could be looking at Lloyd Kelly returning in the summer with the big call to be made as to whether to try again or see if we can move him out permanently.

For now Juventus sit in fourth spot, eight points ahead of Roma who sit just outside the European spots, so it's still looking good.